The Cambridge Companion to the Guitar

This book covers different guitar traditions and styles from baroque, classical, country, blues and rock to flamenco, African and Celtic.

Victor Anand Coelho (Edited by)

9780521801928, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 July 2003

280 pages, 34 b/w illus. 1 map 8 tables 37 music examples
24.4 x 17 x 1.7 cm, 0.65 kg

'A certain novelty of perspective makes for an enlightening read, leaving the reader at the centre of historical and sociological threads that run across the essays as opposed to hopping from island to island of isolated stylistic pieces … This wide-angled view permeates the whole book, making for an engaging acknowledgement that social context and direct application of, and experimentation with, technique can transcend genre … strikes a neat balance between comprehensiveness and depth …'. Journal of Popular Music

From the first mention in courtly poetry of the thirteenth century to enormous global popularity in the twentieth, the guitar and its development comprises multiple histories, each characterised by distinct styles, playing techniques, repertories and socio-cultural roles. These histories simultaneously span popular and classical styles, contemporary and historical practices, written and unwritten traditions and western and non-western cultures. This is the first book to encompass the breadth and depth of guitar performance, featuring thirteen essays covering different traditions, styles, and instruments, written by some of the most influential players, teachers, and guitar historians in the world. The coverage of the book allows the player to understand both the analogies and differences between guitar traditions, and all styles, from baroque, classical, country, blues, and rock to flamenco, African, Celtic, and instrument making will share the same platform. As musical training is increasingly broadened this comprehensive book will become an indispensable resource.

Part I. New Guitar Histories and World Traditions: 1. Picking through cultures: a guitarist's music history Victor Anand Coelho
2. Flamenco guitar: history, style, status Peter Manuel
3. The Celtic guitar: crossing cultural boundaries in the twentieth century Chris Smith
4. African reinventions of the guitar Banning Eyre
Part II. Roots and Rock: 5. The guitar in jazz Graeme Boone
6. A century of blues guitar Jas Obrecht
7. Rock guitar from the 1950s to the 1970s: the turn to noise Steve Waksman
8. Rock guitar since 1980: contesting virtuosity Steve Waksman
9. The guitar in country music Gordon Ross
Part III. Baroque and Classical Guitar Today: 10. Radical innovations, social revolution, and the Baroque guitar Craig Russell
11. The revival of the classical guitar in the twentieth century David Tanenbaum
12. Stradivari and Baroque guitar construction Stewart Pollens
Select bibliography
Glossary.

Subject Areas: Techniques of music / music tutorials [AVS], Musical instruments & instrumental ensembles [AVR]